Bronx girl recovering from burns named 'honorary firefighter'

NEW YORK (FOX 5 NEWS) - Honorary firefighter is a distinction not many receive. But then again, very few are as deserving as Jamoni Merritt.

"Thank you, Jamoni. Thank you for making an extraordinary recovery," FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro said at a ceremony Thursday. "You are a very strong and a very brave young girl."

In August, the 11-year-old girl from the Bronx was at a sleepover she'll never forget. After dozing off, she woke up with burns to over 85 percent of her face after one of her friends threw boiling water at her in an attempted prank.

When the Vulcan Society, an association of black firefighters with a campaign against bullying, heard Jamoni's story, they wanted to be there at her hospital bed to provide support. The Vulcan Society's Regina Wilson of the FDNY's said they didn't know what to expect. But Jamoni was in high spirits. So Wilson said the society wanted to do something special for her.

"Thank you to firefighters and the commissioner for making me a firefighter," Jamoni said. "Thank you, everybody."

Jamoni's strength and resilience make her story an inspiration to others. She is back in school and doing well in her recovery.

She was all smiles in downtown Brooklyn as she received this special honor from the FDNY.